Comparison

RetroPlay vs iGames Retro

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

RetroPlay

Play classic games from GBA, SNES, N64, and more on your iPhone or iPad. This emulator offers smooth performance, customizable controls, and easy ROM import. Relive your favorite retro titles with enhanced audio and visual filters.

Highlights
  • Supports GBA, GBC, NES, SNES, N64, and more
  • Easy ROM import from Files and iCloud
  • Customizable on-screen controls
  • Unlimited save states and quick resume
  • Fast forward gameplay
  • Retro visual and audio filters
  • AirPlay support for big screen gaming
Features
Read full description

Play your favorite retro games on iPhone & iPad — anytime, anywhere. RetroPlay is the all-in-one emulator that brings the most iconic classic consoles back to life. Enjoy smooth performance, fast loading, customizable controls, and support for the most searched retro systems such as GBA, GBC, GB, NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, and Atari Lynx. Whether you’re reliving childhood memories or discovering retro gaming for the first time, RetroPlay delivers the ultimate portable classic gaming experience. - Supported Game Consoles - RetroPlay supports a large collection of legendary retro systems: - Game Boy Advance (GBA) - Game Boy Color (GBC) - Game Boy (GB) - Atari Lynx (LYNX) - Sega Genesis / Mega Drive - Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) - Super Nintendo (SNES) - Nintendo 64 (N64) More consoles are coming soon! - ROM Import Made Easy Import your legally obtained ROM files directly from Files, iCloud Drive, or any app supporting file sharing. Manage your library effortlessly with favorites and quick-access shortcuts. - Customizable On-Screen Controls Fully adjustable buttons & joystick placement Multiple controller skins inspired by classic handheld consoles Support for both portrait and landscape mode - Save States & Quick Resume Unlimited save slots per game Save & load your progress at any time Auto-save so you never lose your place - Fast Forward Speed up gameplay instantly with a single tap Perfect for RPG grinding, cutscenes, or replaying long sequences - Enhanced Audio & Retro Filters Authentic 8-bit and 16-bit audio settings Retro visual shaders (CRT, pixel filters, scanlines) for a nostalgic look - Big Screen Support AirPlay your gameplay to TV for a true console feel Connect external controllers for a home-console experience - Disclaimer RetroPlay is an independent app and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Sega, Atari, or any other console manufacturer. Please only use RetroPlay with legally obtained game files. ROMs are not included. SUBSCRIPTION TERMS RetroPlay offers two optional premium plans: Weekly Plan – $4.99 / week With 3 days free Trial Lifetime Plan - $29.99 Onetime Payment • Unlimited access to all emulator systems • Future console updates included Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime from your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lKqbRxUr_Q5F_JqPulTnFcKH25m3gLOZael5lOyk1lA/edit?usp=sharing Terms Of Use : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xHTxsR-gW6ChUCKaVbMa-ONJZANU60aXIFVGtjjjHNI/edit?usp=sharing

About

iGames Retro

Relive classic gaming memories with a curated collection of nostalgic titles. Browse, search, and save your favorite retro games across various genres, all in one convenient platform. Enjoy gameplay footage and frequent updates for an enhanced experience.

Highlights
  • Collection of nostalgic retro games
  • Game descriptions, images, and trailers
  • Save favorite games
  • Organized categories (Action, Adventure, Racing, etc.)
  • Search and browse by genre or name
  • Controller compatible
  • Optimized for lower-end phones
Features
Read full description

HAVE FUN WITH FAMOUS, NOSTALGIC RETRO GAMES! CHECK OUT A COLLECTION OF THE BEST GAMES FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD—RIGHT ON YOUR PHONE! FIND THEM ALL IN ONE PLACE WITH THIS INNOVATIVE APP AND REVISIT THE CONSOLE CLASSICS THAT DEFINED GENERATIONS! IN THE APP, YOU'LL FIND: - DESCRIPTIONS, IMAGES, TRAILERS, AND GAMEPLAY FOOTAGE - NOSTALGIC TITLES - SAVE YOUR FAVORITE GAMES - ORGANIZED CATEGORIES: ACTION, ADVENTURE, FIGHTING, RACING, LANGUAGES, AND EVEN MODS! - SEARCH AND BROWSE BY GENRE, NAME, OR RECOMMENDATIONS - FREQUENT UPDATES WITH IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW CONTENT - OPTIMIZED FOR LOWER-END PHONES - CONTROLLER COMPATIBLE! TERMS OF USE (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

RetroPlay4 screens
iGames Retro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iGames Retro at 81% against RetroPlay's 0%. iGames Retro also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). RetroPlay's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (151 vs 15). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. RetroPlay sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and iGames Retro sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RetroPlay holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RetroPlay has 151 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of RetroPlay's written reviews are positive against 81% of iGames Retro's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RetroPlay ships an update every 2 months, iGames Retro every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
RetroPlay versus iGames Retro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRetroPlayiGames Retro
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (151 ratings) — better4.2 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews81.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings151 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size101 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHamza El karmouniIncompativeis Games

Customer experience

RetroPlay

All ratings103 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral1.9%
Negative7.8%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

iGames Retro

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive81.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative19.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

RetroPlay

Subscriptions2
  • RetroPlay Premium Access3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • RetroPlay Premium Access$4.997 Days
One-time1
  • RetroPlay Premium Access$29.99
1 purchases

iGames Retro

Subscriptions1
  • REMOVE ADS$4.991 Month

Questions

Is RetroPlay free?
RetroPlay is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is iGames Retro free?
iGames Retro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RetroPlay or iGames Retro?
RetroPlay is rated higher. RetroPlay averages 4.5 out of 5 from 151 ratings, while iGames Retro averages 4.2 from 15 ratings.
Do RetroPlay or iGames Retro have ads?
Both RetroPlay and iGames Retro show ads.
Which is updated more often, RetroPlay or iGames Retro?
RetroPlay ships an update every 2 months, and iGames Retro every 5 days. Most recently, RetroPlay was updated on November 12, 2026 and iGames Retro on November 9, 2026.

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